AstonRep Theatre Company’s presentation of Harold Pinter’s “The Dumb Waiter” with companion piece “In the Moment” by Jeff Helgeson will only have three more performances on January 31, February 7 and February 14. Try to make one of them.

Part of the Rhinoceros Fringe Festival, “In the Moment” is a new script that takes us from “The Dumb Waiter” springboard into a humorous reflection on what theater is. An able hand by directors Adrian Balbontin and Robert Tobin is clearly at work

First and foremost, these two plays give us the definition that theater is a showcase of acting talent. The two actors who perform these two one-acts, Rory Jobst and Tim Larson (and a cameo by Sara Pavlak), not only time their many Pinter pauses with perfection but then seamlessly take us into the real-time world of “In the Moment” where we see these actors as real people—almost. It’s still scripted and what a delightful script it is.

You will leave Prop Theatre where this is staged with ear-to-ear smiles and some thoughts to chew on without all-you-can-eat buffet excess.

Each year, Curious Theatre Branch curates and produces the Rhinoceros Theater Festival, which provides production and exhibition opportunities to hundreds of artists, drawing thousands in attendance annually.

First organized in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, the RhinoFest is unique among national fringe festivals in that artists are never charged a fee to participate, and each year its programs are individually curated rather than selected on a lottery basis.

If you are a fan of the likes of nationally-known well established venues like The Steppenwolf or Chicago Shakespeare, going for a reminder of how Chicago’s small theaters are the ones that really make the city’s theater scene sizzle is a healthy thing to do. You’ll have a lot more fun though than eating the proverbial spinach.

For tickets and information visit the Rhino Festival website. Also for tickets the remaining performances of “The Dumb Waiter” and “In the Moment” and other performances at Prop Thtr call 773 508 – 0666.